The Health Exchange

Episode 97 of The Health Exchange Podcast tackles the questions people often feel uncomfortable asking about intimacy and reproductive health with guest Dr. Rena Malik, a urologist and specialist in this area. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about the connection between intimate health and overall well-being, including how stress, anxiety, hormones, and cardiovascular health can affect desire, arousal...

Episode 96 of The Health Exchange Podcast examines the often overlooked realities of perimenopause with guest Rachel Frankenthal, a gynecologic oncology PA-C and menopause-certified practitioner. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about how fluctuating hormones can affect far more than reproductive health, contributing to changes in mood, sleep, memory, body composition, sexual health, and long-term dise...

Episode 95 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the history, science, and practice of acupuncture with guest Dr. Felice Chan, a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about how acupuncture may influence pain, inflammation, the nervous system, and the body’s stress response, examining the research behind a practice that has been used for thousands of years...

Episode 94 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the complexities of diabetes with guest Dr. David Ahn, an endocrinologist and chief of diabetes services at Hoag. Dr. Rutland speaks with him about the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, how insulin resistance develops long before symptoms appear, and why prediabetes deserves more attention. The conversation examines the long-term eff...

Episode 93 of The Health Exchange Podcast takes listeners inside the world of labor and delivery with Sydney Fuller, a labor and delivery and postpartum nurse who shares what happens before, during, and after childbirth. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about how labor begins, the stages of delivery, when patients should go to the hospital, and the different options for managing pain, from movement and...

Episode 92 of The Health Exchange Podcast centers on the experience of being diagnosed with cancer at a young age and how treatment can affect far more than the body. Dr. Rutland speaks with Goldie Chan, a bestselling author, leader, and breast cancer survivor, about her diagnosis and the financial and emotional realities of stepping away from work. Goldie shares how advocating for herself helped...

Episode 91 of The Health Exchange Podcast dives into the science of sleep with sleep medicine physician Dr. Sam Kashani, looking at why sleep is so essential to nearly every aspect of our health. Dr. Rutland speaks with him about the different types of sleep disorders, how sleep affects memory, mood, hormones, cardiovascular health, and long-term health, and why sleep problems can sometimes be con...

Episode 90 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores colorectal cancer through both the patient and physician perspective with colorectal cancer survivor and advocate Amber Mike and her oncologist, Dr. Krushangi Patel. Dr. Rutland speaks with them about Amber’s diagnosis at a young age, the subtle symptoms she experienced before discovering her cancer, and why recognizing changes in your body and se...

Episode 89 of The Health Exchange Podcast looks at the realities of living with asthma with guest Dominique Lovings, a podcaster and content creator who was diagnosed as a child but spent much of her life without fully understanding the condition or how it should be managed. Dr. Rutland talks with Dominique about what asthma actually is, how symptoms can be minimized or overlooked, and how untreat...

Episode 88 of The Health Exchange Podcast examines what happens after death and the often misunderstood world of funeral care with guest Ashley McLean, a funeral director and embalmer who gives Dr. Rutland a behind-the-scenes look at what happens from the moment someone dies to the funeral, burial, or cremation. The conversation breaks down the realities of embalming, cremation, working with hospi...

Episode 87 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the brain, spine, and nervous system with guest Dr. Lindsey Ross, a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine surgery. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about how the nervous system communicates throughout the body, how neurosurgeons determine when surgery is necessary, and the importance of listening closely to patients when symptoms a...

Episode 86 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the science, psychology, and humanity of palliative care with guest Dr. Alex Gamble, an internist, psychiatrist, and palliative care physician. Dr. Rutland speaks with him about what palliative care actually means, how it differs from hospice, and why it should be considered throughout the course of serious illness rather than only at the end of l...

Episode 85 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the challenges of keeping kids healthy as they head back to school with guest Dr. Dylan Ochal, a pediatrician who discusses everything from frequent childhood illnesses and developing immune systems to the importance of wellness visits and preventive care. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about knowing when a child’s symptoms are normal versus when the...

Episode 84 of The Health Exchange Podcast tells the remarkable story of stomach cancer survivor Sidney Raskind, whose life was forever changed after the devastating loss of his daughter led to the discovery of a hereditary cancer syndrome hidden within his family. Sidney joins Dr. Rutland to discuss how genetic testing uncovered his cancer before symptoms ever appeared, the difficult decision to u...

Episode 83 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the rapidly evolving world of cancer care with guest Dr. Paul Hanona, a hematologist-oncologist dedicated to both treating patients and educating the public. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Hanona explain what cancer actually is, why it should be thought of as hundreds of unique diseases rather than a single diagnosis, and how breakthroughs in genetics, immun...

Episode 82 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the complex world of pediatric ear, nose, and throat health with guest Dr. Gene Liu, an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon. Dr. Rutland speaks with him about why ear infections are one of the most common reasons children visit the doctor, how fluid in the middle ear can affect hearing and speech development, and why some children outgrow t...

Episode 81 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the growing impact of colorectal cancer with guest Dr. Karen Zaghiyan, a board-certified colorectal surgeon. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about why colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults, the warning signs people often dismiss, and why screening remains one of the most powerful tools for prevention. The conversation breaks down common mis...

Episode 80 of The Health Exchange Podcast takes a look at the Mobile Stroke Unit with Dr. May Nour, a vascular and interventional neurologist and Medical Director of the UCLA Health Mobile Stroke Rescue Program. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Nour discuss what happens inside the brain during a stroke, why every minute can mean the loss of millions of brain cells, and how recognizing symptoms quickly can dram...

Episode 79 of The Health Exchange Podcast shines a light on bronchiectasis through the powerful story of patient Christy Marlin, whose symptoms went undiagnosed for decades despite years of recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia, and chronic cough. Dr. Rutland and Christy discuss why this often-overlooked lung disease is so frequently missed, how delayed diagnosis can lead to irreversible airway damage,...

Episode 78 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the science, history, and misconceptions surrounding Botox with guest Nicola Lowrey, an aesthetic medicine expert. She and Dr. Rutland discuss how one of the world’s most potent toxins evolved into a widely used medical treatment, breaking down the neurobiology behind Botox and the many conditions it can help address beyond cosmetic wrinkles. The...

Episode 77 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores one of the most universal yet least understood parts of life: death. Dr. Jamie Rutland sits down with hospice nurse and educator Julie McFadden to discuss what hospice care really is, what dying actually looks like, and why end-of-life conversations are often delayed until it's too late. Drawing from years of experience in both intensive care and...

Episode 76 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the science, misconceptions, and real-world applications of hypnotherapy with guest Dr. Nancy Irwin, Clinical Psychologist & Certified Hypnotherapist. Dr. Rutland speaks with her about the connection between the mind and body, how beliefs and thought patterns can influence behavior, and why hypnosis is far different from the stage performances...

Episode 75 of The Health Exchange Podcast tackles the growing youth vaping epidemic with guest Dr. Lori Livingston, a pediatrician who sees firsthand how nicotine addiction is affecting children and teenagers. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Livingston explore why vaping has become so appealing to young people, from flavored products and social influences to the misconceptions that vaping is a safer alternati...

Episode 74 of The Health Exchange Podcast follows the story of Brittany Quiroz, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after years of symptoms that never fully made sense. Brittany speaks candidly about how the disease changed the way she moves through everyday life and how it forced her to slow down, rethink her priorities, and become more intentional with her time and energy. Dr. Rutland expl...

Episode 73 of The Health Exchange Podcast explores the science and real-world impact of allergies, asthma, and type two inflammation with guest Payel Gupta, a triple board-certified physician in internal medicine, pediatrics, and allergy immunology. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Gupta break down how the immune system can mistakenly overreact to everyday triggers like pollen, pollution, foods, and pet dander...